For the first time in history, top track and field athletes across the world will compete for a share in the $10 million jackpot on offer at the maiden World Athletics Ultimate Championship, which begins tomorrow in Budapest, Hungary.
 
The three-day competition will see individual champions go home with $150,000 from the record $10million total purse.
 
A total of nine athletes, a blend of established stars and emerging talent, will fly Nigeria’s flag across individual and mixed relay events.
 
Former world record holder Tobi Amusan leads the women’s contingent, having been listed for the 100m hurdles, as well as the mixed 4x100m relay.
 
Despite losing her World Record recently, Amusan remains one of the fastest women in the history of the 100m hurdles event.
 
Tomorrow in Budapest, Amusan will face the current world record holder, Masai Russell, as well as four-time fastest woman Keni Harrison, who will also be in the field, making it a showdown packed with serious pedigree.
 
Russell recently broke Amusan’s world record with a stunning 12.09 seconds, while Amusan remains the only other woman to have gone below 12.15seconds in history, having run 12.12secords at Oregon, USA in 2022. Russell also arrives in Budapest on a remarkable 12-meet winning streak, setting up another fascinating battle with Amusan, who is popularly called ‘Tobiexpress’ by her fans.
 
In the men’s 100m, Kanyinsola Ajayi will carry Nigeria’s hopes, while Udodi Onwuzurike will compete in both the 200m and the mixed 4x100m relay.
 
Ella Onojuwvevwo will line up in the women’s 400m, just as Ezekiel Nathaniel will contest the men’s 400m hurdles.
 
Nigeria’s mixed 4x100m relay team is made up of Alaba Akintola, Favour Ashe, Miracle Ezechukwu, Udodi Onwuzurike, Rosemary Nwankwo and Tobi Amusan.